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Monday, April 27, 2015

OM Girl! Teenage yoga teacher turns heads

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c/o Mark Allen Abbey Arts & Photography

Yogi see, yogi do.

More teens are not only practicing yoga, but teaching it, too!

Take Avery Jones. The fourteen-year-old yoga instructor from Marble Falls,Texas recently talked to us about yoga as both passion and profession!KidsYogaDaily:How did you get in to yoga?AJ: I started at age four. I'm the third oldest of seven siblings and we're homeschooled. My family did videos from the library together, and a teacher
within our area homeschool group also taught yoga at nearby Sana Vida studio.

c/o Mark Abbey

KidsYogaDaily: What hooked you on the practice?

AJ: It helped me to stay healthy. I was never in to sports,
and it became my sport. You also use the coolest toys to stretch out with.

KidsYogaDaily: When did you know you wanted to teach it?AJ: At age ten. I was watching a news report on yoga and
thought, 'I can do this.' I created Wiggle Worm Yoga and started teaching my
family and homeschool group, at the library and at churches. Later on, I completed
my 200-hour teaching training at Sana Vida, so I could teach there.

KidsYogaDaily: Were the mostly-adult students accepting of you?

AJ: Everyone was...supportive and thought it was interesting that
I was a young teacher. It was a positive experience.

c/o Mark Abbey

KidsYogaDaily: What about those who may find fault with your young age?AJ: I can handle criticism. People may have distrust. I may not have
experienced what they have, but I have learned about yoga for stress, and sciatica,
and have an idea of what they might be dealing with.

KidsYogaDaily: Did you get a lot out of the teacher training?

AJ: I had a lot of personal growth. I became more aware of my emotions and body. Before the training, I had never really meditated. I have asthma and meditating really helps if an attack comes on. I try to meditate daily for ten minutes or more.

KidsYogaDaily: What’s your teaching style?

AJ: I focus on fun, comfortability, emotions, and a bit
of alignment. I want kids to feel the poses and become more aware of their
bodies. I start class dancing to a song called, “Shake
Your Sillies Out.” In one game, we pass
a ball around with our feet in a circle, and coordinate our breath. It’s a
moving meditation. We also practice feather breathing, watching a feather as
we blow on it, which slows down the breath.

KidsYogaDaily: Are there advantages to teaching at such a young age?AJ: It’s much easier to teach kids classes. I’m little, they’re little. I can
still be silly. I think kids can relate more to a younger teacher.

c/o Mark Abbey

KidsYogaDaily: What kind of music is on your teaching playlist?

AJ: I often just play Ingrid Michaelson. The ukulele and
subtle voice is pretty.

KidsYogaDaily: Do you have a daily practice?

AJ: Yes. I practice sun salutations every morning, which are
very powerful and provide a huge emotional release.

KidsYogaDaily: What’s next? AJ: I teach a weekly class called, “Go With the Flow” at a nearby
park and will soon teach kids, ages five through ten, at Sana Vida. This
summer, I’ll teach a kids boot camp too. I’m very excited. Eventually, I’d like
to become a mind/body therapist. I want to learn about different
diseases and ailments like stress, back and neck pain to help people, through
yoga and meditation.